Sunday!

I love, love, love Sundays!

I haven't always felt so warm and fuzzy for this particular day of the week, due in part to the stress that seemed to always surround me. I remember growing up, as Sunday being a day of stress, and I carried that into my years as a young wife and mother. For a long time, it was all about getting all of the children dressed into their fanciest attire, getting my hair just right, making sure I had all of our best ducks in a row...and by the time we got in the car, I was a basket case, and our best ducks were not looking so great!

I remember hearing that Sunday was supposed to be a day of rest, and that would cause me to do either one of two things...laugh hysterically at the irony of it all, or weep to think I must be doing something wrong.
But due to growing, independent children, and a change of thinking on what this day of worship and rest was intended to be...Sunday is now my favorite day of the week, and today was no exception!

I look forward all week to gathering in worship with friends, and hearing from God. He uses Pastor Darrell to teach His truths to my heart, weekly! In combined effort we lift our voices to bring glory to the One who deserves our praise, and with faith, we encourage each other to keep our hearts and eyes focused on Jesus!

God has blessed Duane, myself and our children with a wonderful church to attend, and while we are thrilled at how He is working all around us...we know that He is alive and working in churches all over our community and the world!
We are seeing lost people find a new life in Christ! The hopeless are alive with expectation and the redeemed are finding deeper faith in Him! That is exciting!!!

I went into this day needing to be reminded that God is faithful and alive in my world! I am ending this day with a heart full of praise at what He is going to do!!

Welcome Home, Marcus!

Our family would love to say, "Welcome Home" to our friend, Capt. Marcus Moyer.

He has been on deployment with the US Marines as a pilot, for 7 months, and just got home to North Carolina, yesterday.

Thank you, Marcus for all you have done for our country! We are proud of you and grateful for you.
I can't say enough about his wife, Julie. She sacrificed for us too, and quite beautifully, I must say!!

God has some exciting things in store for you both!! Much love and many blessings!

My Favorite Links!!

For those of you who wanted these links, here they are! These are links to just a few of my favorite websites. I love all of the ideas and inspiration!! Have a great Spring Break!

Beth Moore's Blog

The Inspired Room

A Soft Place To Land

Nesting Place

The Lettered Cottage

Warm Pie, Happy Home

Sadie Olive

Lola B's Boutique

Lisa Leonard's Jewlery...my favorite!!!

I have many more, but these will give you something to start with!

Priceless!!

This morning, Duane was here in the kitchen doing some computer work; I was making eggs and toast and Nikki was sitting at the table eating.

Nikki is such a Little Miss Chatty-Kathy in the morning...actually, she is chatty all the time! She started telling Duane and I about how at Grandma Sue's house, her cousin Alyssa, asked her what she was giving up for Lent.
These are her exact words..."Alyssa asked me what I was giving up for 40 days, you know, for Lent. Well I told Alyssa, that there were two things I was NOT going to give up for Lent! I was not going to give up my mommy and daddy! No way, Jose....it ain't gonna happen!!!"

Duane and I are so relieved we will not be given up by our children, for Lent!!! Priceless!!

Learning to Hush

Life has a way of teaching me lessons. God has a way of teaching me lessons. I recently was with an individual that felt it their place to put everyone else in theirs. This person shared their opinion on everything, and found fault left and right. I came away from that conversation down right angry! I was complaining to interior of my car about how annoying and frustrating it was! Then a quiet Voice said to me, that I too, am so guilty of speaking my mind when I really need to hush! Upon further reflection, this is what God's word has to say....(to me)

He who has understanding spares his words,

     And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

                                           Proverbs 17:27
He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

                                           Proverbs 13:3

A fool vents all his feelings,
But a wise man holds them back.

                                            Proverbs 29:11


I read these verses and felt like I needed to go have a zipper
installed on my mouth!
I then thanked God for making me aware of this in my own life!
Oh how I wish it were possible to go
around and pick up again, words that have wounded...but now,
they are feathers
on the wind.

There is something so liberating and peaceful about not having
to share what I think or know about
everything!
If I have ever hurt you with my words, forgive me, and then
please pray that God will continue to teach me
how to hush!

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
"In repentance and rest is your salvation,  in quietness and 
trust is your strength...Isaiah 30:15a

Anticipation!

I have been having fun with this photo....you can read more about this photo further down in my blog.
Here is two more versions that I did this morning....sepia or black and white? I am planning on getting this picture printed and framed for my kitchen.


Please take a minute and place your vote for: color, black and white or sepia??

Chef-in-Training

Here at the Taylor's, we have a young chef. He begs to cook with me on a daily basis. I love it, because he is helpful, and it gives he and I a chance to talk and bond over skillets and mixing bowls!
This morning, he announced that he wanted to make pancakes! He set to work, and with some help from mom, he added a touch of vanilla flavoring and some sugar. He wanted "Sweet Flap-jacks".
I have been trying to teach him to experiment with recipes. It has taken me years to learn that adding a touch of flavorings, seasonings, or herbs, can make a "ho-hum dish" come alive with flavor! Except when a certain father-in-law wonders why there is grass (Rosemary) in the spaghetti sauce?

Mr. Flap-Jack!
These were some of the yummiest pancakes I have ever eaten!

(Sorry, to a certain some-woman, about all the syrup floating on the plate. I worried that might make you gag!)

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives!

My cousin, Sherri owns a wonderful little restaurant here in Idaho called The Orchard House. The restaurant was recently nominated and chosen to appear on Food Network's, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri.

So, today, Guy Fieri, the show's host showed up at The Orchard House, with his camera crew, to do a taping for a future show. Being such HUGE fans of the show, we just had to go, and since Sherri had invited us to be there, we really had to go! Marc and Talisha joined us (they are fans too!).

We arrived early (to get a good table), and almost immediately, our waitress invited us to go back to the kitchen with her, to watch Guy cook with the Orchard House Chef....it was awesome!

We ordered a latte for Sheila, and soda for the others, and sat back and enjoyed the energy of place!
After cooking in the kitchen, Guy came out and mingled with the customers, and then left! By the way, he was very down to earth and seemed friendly! Lots of energy!

We ordered the famous Finger Steaks (highly recommended) for lunch, and just after our food arrived, the camera crew from the Food Network, came to our table and asked us if they could interview all four of us...on camera...for the show! We nervously said yes, and were promptly interviewed. It will be interesting to see just how much of our interviews show up on TV!

It was a chance of a lifetime, that we had a blast being part of! We are THRILLED for Sherri, Chris and The Orchard House!
Now, all you Idahoans need to go eat there! The prime rib, or any steak for that matter, is to die for! All the food is local and fresh! If you go for lunch, you should have the finger steaks!

A Norman Rockwell Moment......

I took this picture of Alex and Tucker the other night, while we baked Lemon Bars. After posting it, I had many people comment on how it was one of those "Norman Rockwell moments". A couple days later, a friend of ours, Steve Stanley, emailed me this version of my picture. Isn't it great?!

Anticipation!

Today, I was driving down the road, having a little talk pity party with myself to God......

"I am so tired of all of this.....why does it seem that just when I think things are ok, they fall apart again?!"

I heard Him gently say, "Sheila, let Me take it for you!"

I kept talking arguing......

"But, I have given it to You, over and over and over and.......!"

He gently spoke again, "You need to let me take it...all of it!

So, in reverent submission (obedience), I gave all of it to the One who says,

"Let Me take it personally for you. It can hurt Me, but it can't hinder Me"

So, tonight, while the ocean roars around me, I am resting in peace, knowing that He who created the ocean, rules the waves!


Psalm 35:3......."Reassure me; let me hear You say, "I'll save you."